Mbeya City and Gaita Gold met in the first round of the Ligi Kuu Bara on Thursday, and the visitors took all three points with a 1-0 win. The match finished in the 88th minute, with the only goal credited to A. Chirwa.
Chirwa made his presence felt early. He scored in the 15th minute and was shown a yellow card in the 16th, with another goal entry recorded for that same minute. Mbeya City pushed for an equaliser but could not find the net.
Mbeya City made three changes at the break, bringing on I. Aziz, R. Msuya and V. Abubakar. Gaita Gold added H. Haji in the 68th minute, while Chirwa was replaced in the 71st. Y. V. Mhilu came on for the visitors in the 72nd.
Discipline was tight throughout. N. Kaboma and M. Nasoro collected yellow cards for Mbeya City, while M. Kigi was booked for Gaita Gold in the 88th minute. One further yellow went to an unnamed player in the 84th.
Statistically the match was even. Mbeya City had 47 per cent of possession to Gaita Gold's 53, and both teams registered over 100 attacks. The hosts failed to hit the target with any of their three shots, while the visitors scored from two attempts.
Before the game Mbeya City sat fifth with ten points from five matches, while Gaita Gold were sixth on seven. The win moves the visitors closer to the top half, and Mbeya City remain without a victory at home this term.